We, as a nation, recently observed the Thanksgiving Holiday. While there are those who have arguments against its celebration hopefully on principal we can agree that giving thanks for what we have is a good practice. Many of us understand that our nation was first settled by nomadic tribes of people. While I am not going to get into an anthropologic discussion, Native Americans were as diverse as the many nations of Europe yet there were some generally understood practices among the varying tribes. Like the Europeans, they had several ways of getting food. These included hunting, trapping, fishing, gathering, and farming. Central to the beliefs of Native Americans was the understanding that the land and animals were there to provide sustainment, that everything was created for a purpose. Being able to live off of the land, especially while being highly mobile, is of great importance as is your relationship with it. When taking an animal, Native Americans would give thanks for the gift because it meant they could feed the tribe or family. This is the full expression of the circle of life.
The convenience of today’s modern society has lessened that once intrinsically understood connection. Unless your occupation is directly tied to the land and its resources, you, like I, might take many things for granted. After traveling in varying parts of the world I have seen some extreme differences. In Ho Chi Min City, from a distance I witnessed an elderly woman walk out of an alley; pull up her dress while leaning against a tree and squat to relieve herself. In the Philippines, I saw outside stalls like you would see in a restroom near roadways that allowed a little more privacy for the very same act. With the exception of me, no one around seemed to notice, care, or think it out of the ordinary. Walking around Ho Chi Min was something I would not forget with armed soldiers on every street corner in the town center near the government buildings. An open park-like square and shops gave the illusion that you had freedom until you met those soldiers with AK-47’s standing at attention with eyes on this American. When I left Vietnam, I had learned the five-dollar tip I gave the gentlemen who carried my bags up to my room upon arrival was more than a week’s wage at the time. Simple things like drinkable running water, electricity, heat, air conditioning, and even personal freedom made the journey back memorable. Indeed, international travel helped me to quickly understand that we take so much for granted in the United States. Some of these conditions now exist in places like San Francisco or Baltimore.
When I hear someone complain about not getting a Dutch Brothers or Starbucks coffee before school/work or not having the latest iPhone, I think about that five-dollar tip. When I see on social media sites complaints about how our country isn’t great or how we are oppressing others, I think about the sign on the hotel sink stating the water is not potable or how many don’t have indoor plumbing. It bothers me that so many don’t understand that what we are complaining about or even the fact we get to complain would be a welcome change for people in other countries. If anything good comes of the protests in Hong Kong maybe it is an understanding of how good we have it here with our republic or how others are willing to risk it all just to have a taste of freedom. We have so much to be thankful for.
In my blog titled Are You Connected, I wrote about a connection between man and creation. Mature hunters understand the importance of conservation, wildlife management and respecting habitat. Hunters also know that the odds of harvesting an animal during hunting season are statistically against them. You can look at harvest rates from each state and see the percentages of tags sold versus taken are low. I know hunters who have gone years with never taking an animal, call it “bad luck” or true purposeful management practices. Since my very first deer, I have always taken a moment to give thanks for the harvest because I know this is special and would not happen if it were not for my Creator. If you haven’t participated in it or done it, it might be very hard to understand what I am saying. It is odd that many would not argue the strong connection that Native Americans have to the land and animals but don’t consider the modern hunter in the same way. I don’t give thanks as a cultural misappropriation of Native American heritage, instead, I humbly and heartfelt agree with the reason and purpose behind it.
In 2016, I was invited along with some friends on my first ever Pronghorn hunt. My daughter was able to go with me on this trip and it is one we haven’t forgotten. We hunted in the desert around a water hole and on the second day, I was able to harvest a mature buck. We loaded up our gear as quickly as possible and hoisted the pronghorn onto our ATV in order to give the rest of the group a chance to take an animal. As we headed out on our way, my daughter asked if we could stop. As the ATV came to rest, I turned to her and asked why. She said plainly in her 8-year-old voice, “Daddy, we need to pray and give thanks.” She was right, in the rush to get out of there so others could continue their hunt; we hadn’t taken the time to do this. In the heat of the day, in the middle of a desert, my daughter and I knelt down and laid our hands on the fallen pronghorn. Together, we prayed to God for the gift of this pronghorn’s life and the meat it would bring our family. We thanked Him for our friends for showing us where to go and inviting us. We also thanked God for keeping us safe and to continue to protect us on our way home. After we had finished, we got back on the ATV and my daughter was more at peace and held me tighter. We drove back to camp steadily but filled with gratitude. When we got home, my daughter asked my wife if we could get it mounted. She replied that she would think about it. The next morning, I was pleasantly surprised to hear her say we should go ahead and do it. The mount will someday be my daughter’s and it will always serve as a reminder of that day but most importantly to be thankful and honor the hunt.
From all of us here at Bucks & Beers, may this time serve as a reminder and we hope you had time to reflect on what you are most thankful for.
- L. Yarbrough, Bucks & Beers
